Type-writing machine



(No Model.) A 5 sheets-sheet 1 f W. J.`BA RRON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 28, Iage.

(No Model.) v f W. JBARRON. TYPE WRITING` MAQHINB.

s Suma/Lto@ ,-PatentedApr. 28 1896;,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. BARRON. `-TIPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 559,071. PatentedApr. 28, 1896.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. I W. J. BARRON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. No. 559,071, I PatentedApr. 28:, 18961.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATnS PATENT Erica.

WALTER J. BARRoN, or BROOKLY, NEW YoRK,Ass1GNoR rro THE UNioN TYPEWRTTER COMPANY, -OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPEfawRiTiNe MACHINE;

SPECIFICATION formingvpart of Letters Patent No. 559,071, dated April` 28, 1896. Application iiled Jui-1e 19, 1891. Serial No. 396,840. (No modelfr Beit known that I, WALTER J. BARRoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and- State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iu Type-Writing Machinos, of which the following is a specification. f V

My invention relates to means for feeding the inking-ribbon of a type-writing machine both lengthwise and crosswise, and to-m'eans for automatically reversing the direction of movement of the ribbon when the ribbon has been wound from one spool onto the other; and to these ends it consists of-the various features of improvement hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure is a top plan vien1 of a portion of a type-writing machine, embodying my invention, said machine i being what `is known as the Densmore machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof -withthe keyboard and other unnecessary parts removed, as in Fig. 1, to avoid complication of the view. Fig-13 is a side elevation of the machine, taken at the left-hand end and showing the improved parts in their normal positions in full lines. Fig. -i4 is a similar View topshow the action ofthe parts to .eect the winding and also'the reversing of the ribbon. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine, takenat the rightdland end, but provided with ribbon-reversing devices .dierent in construction from those shown in the pref ceding Iviews. Fig. 6 is a similar view to illustrate the reversing operation. Fig'. 7 is a front elevation of the machine shown'at Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the ribbon-spool frame or support employed-in the machineshown aty Figs. 1, 2, 3,

l and fl. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the` device employed for Vactuatin g the ribbon-reversing levers or switch shown at Figs. 5, 6, and v7; and Fig. 10 isa perspective view of 'the ribbon-spool support provided with-a modified form-,of device lfor actuating the v ribbon-reversing means.

Refe'prin f.01igs.1,2,3,4,'na s, reasignates the ramework of a type-writing ma-` chine; 2",. thje top plate or type-ring upon which at 20 for the reception of said armlS.

work by screws or centers.

the type-levers are all mounted in any suitable way, 3 design'ating'seveial of the hang ers for the type-bars, which latter are not shown, in. order to simplify the views.

-1 is a guide-rail for the carriage 5, a portion only of which latter is shownf. To thecarriagc at 7 is attached one end of a cord or chain 8, the other end of which isv connected to a spring-drum 9, provided with a winding device 10 and let-off escapement devices llfor decreasing the tension of the driving-drum 9.

On the hub or axle of the driving-drum-9 is arranged a drum or barrel 12 to rotatefwitlr the' drivin g-drum 9, and attached to saidbarrel atone end isa cord for chain 13, whose lowerend is attached to the free'end of a horizontal arm 14, projecting rearwardly from a collar 15 at the left-hand side of the machine, which is fast on a transverse lrock-shaft 16, mounted to turn in brackets 17 at each side of the machine. Secured to said ,collar 15 is another vertical arm 18, whose upper free end engages loosely tbe left-handribbonspool frame or support-19, which is perforated The side bars of the support 19 are each provided with a hole 21 for the passage of a rod or axle 22', which 'is supported iixedly in the frame- At the right-han d side of J[he machine there isa similar arm 1S and a similar ribbon-spool support 19 and shaft 22. Vv'ithin' each frame or supportl) -and upon each rod 22 is mounted to' rotate a.

ribbon spool or bobbin 23, provided with a crown ratchet-wheel 24, the spool or bobbin bc- 'ing held with thelrequisite degree of friction,

to prevent it turning too easily, by means oi' a washer `25 between lthe side of the lratchetwheel and one4 of the side arms of the frame 4.19, anda plate-spring 26, arranged between one head of the spool onbobbin and the other of the side `arms of the frame 19, the said spring operating to press the `spool against the washer and the latter against the front side arm ofthe supportingframe 10.

On a stud 27 at veach side of the machine is ratchet-wheel of each ribbon-spool and turn the same, ne as to `wind the ribbon lengthwise,

the-ribbon-spools have `been p'ivoted a drivingpawl 28 to .engage with the i by means of the cord 13, arm 14, rock-shaft 16, arms 18, and supporting-frames 19.

At 29 is pivoted on each ribbon-spool support 19 a lever 30, which is bent to provide a hook or eye 31 just large enough for the ribbon to pass through, but not large enough to permit the passage therethrough of a pin, bar, or other enlargement 32, with which the ribbon isprovided near or at each end.

Pivoted at 33 on the under side of the typering or top plate 2 is a lever 34, curved to correspond with the curvature ot' the type-ring and bent laterally at each side, as at 35, then downwardly vertically, as at 36,' and then rearwardly horizontallyas at 37. Each vertical arm 36 of the lever isformed with an elongated slot, which embraces a pin 38, fixed to the framework, and these devices form an additional guide or support for said lever.' Each horizontal arm 37 of the said leveris adapted to alternately-engage with its respective driving-pawl 28 and hold said pawl up out of operative relation to its ratchet-wheel 24. The lever 34 is adapted to be acted upon by the lever 30, which projects forwardly beyond the support 19 .when the said lever has been moved by the rod or obstruction 32 and when the ribbon-spools have arrived at or near the end oi' their forwardmovements. The ribbon 39 may be connected at its end to the ribbonspools in the usual way-that is, by pinning or coupling the ends of the ribbon to short pieces of tape or bands secured to the ribbonspools-or the en ds of the ribbon may be attached directly to the ribbon-spools without the said tapes lor bands. When the latter are used, the pins or connecting devices may operate to serve the function of the bar or obstruction 32. constructions the ribbon may be hunched or so folded at or near its ends as to be incapable of passing through the eye of the lever 30. At Fig. 3 the left-hand arm 27 of the lever' 34 stands in contact with the depending end of the'pivoted drivin g-pawl 28 at the left-hand side of the machine, and by reason of this contact the upper or operating end of the said driving-pawl is held out of operative relation to the ratchet-wheel 24 and cannot turn said ratchet-wheel and its spool when said ratchetwheel is moved toward said pawl. The righthand arm 37 of the lever 34 stands away from the lower extension of the driving-pawl 28 -at the right-hand side of the machine, and the gravity or construction of said pawl is such as to cause it to fall or incline rearwardly a limited distance against a stop or pin, as shown,'to engage with the right-hand ratchetwheel 24 when said ratchet -wheel arrives neail the end of its forward stroke, and by traveling a short distance in company with said ratchet-wheel said pawl operates to turn the same and its spool and the ribbon the distance of one notch of said ratchet-wheel.

At Fig. 4 the arm. 37 at the left-hand side of the machine is out of contact with its drivingpawl 28, and in this condition of the'parts the In lieuof either of these'A left-hand pawl 28 may engage with and drive its ratchet-wheel, While the right-hand pawl 28 is prevented from engaging with or driving its ratchet-wheel. y

Those skilled in the art will readily understand the construction and operation of the machine `from what has already been said, taken in connection with the followingexplanation of the mode of operation of the improved mechanism.

At Fig. 3`the carriage is supposed to be at the extreme left-hand end of the machine and the ribbon-spools and ribbon at the end of their rearward transverse stroke or movement. As the carriage is returned to the right for the commencement of a new line the cord or chain 8 is inwound from the spring-drum 9 and the cord 13 wound uponthe barrel 12, thereby lifting the arm -14 against the tension of the spring 40, rocking the .shaft 416, and causing the 'arms 18v to drive ormovc the ribbon-spool frames or supports 19, with their accessories, toward the front of the machine. As the writing progresses the spring-drum 9 gradually draws the carriage toward the left, winding up the cord or chain 8 again and allowing the cord or chain 13 to unwind and the spring 40 to gradually return thearlns 14 and 18 and their connections to their normal positions. (Shown atFig. 3.)

The construction' and relationship of the parts are such that during the travel of the carriage from right to left the ribbon is moved rearwardlytransversely for substantially its whole width, and hence' is being used width- `wise instead of lengthwise at this time, as

generally heretofore. During the travel of the carriage from left to right theribbon is moved toward the front of the machine or transverselyin an opposite direction, but is not during this movement used or struck by IOO the type-levers. When the ribbon has arrived at near the end of its forward stroke, the right1 hand ratchet-wheel is engaged by the operating end of the pawi 28, and as the forward movement of the ribbon and its spools is continued the said pawl is caused to vibrate or swing up forwardly and operate to turn or drive the right-hand ratchet-Wheel one notch or tooth, and hence move the ribbon toward theright a like distance. This movement of the ribbon lengthwise occurs at the beginning of every new line and continues until the entire length of the ribbon has been wound from the left-hand spool onto the right-hand spool. As shown at Fig. 3, the ribbon has been. almost entirely' drawn oi from the left-hand ribbon-spool and the pin or obstruction 32 is soon to come into engagement with the shifting-leverv30. At Fig. 4 I have shown the pin or obstruction 32 as having actuated the lever 30 and the'latter as having acted upon the 'reversing-lever 34 and caused it to vibrate, so as to Withdraw the left-hand arm 37 of said lever IIO from the left-hand driving-pawl 28 andlmove the right-handarm 37 of said lever into con- 1 and in the followingmanner:

. thus continued the ribbon is` caused to move ribbon. i l

' l fslot oreyc 43 is adapted to purpose that the hook or eye l tached an arm-46, which at its lll-per end is' benttoforlna head 47 6o is provided with `a iin ger 48 tojacton the de- K.pending extension of the left-.hand drivingpawLS.l l At the right-hand end lof saidfrpckshaft is provided a shorterarni 49 to receive l at"'52 to the framework, `which lever is provided at its upper end with a head 'for the ling-pawl'is now fre-c to engage with the left'- onto the left-hand 'throw down its upper projecting end into a plane or position such length, and when the pin or obstruction at and operates the lever 30 on the right-hand `one side of thc'frame .or switch. that l have changed somewhat the detail con- 'leveiz '1n these views 5..

5seen tact with the right-hand driving-pawl,` and it i will be understood that, in view of the changes i `in position of the arms 37, the left-hand drivhand.ratchc1wlieci and wind the ribbon back spool, andthat rthe righthand driving-pawl is restrained froincopcrating with its ratchet-wheel during this time. The shifting of the lever 341 so as to provide for thc' .reverse longitudinal movement of the inking-ribboms effected automatically by the projecting end of the lever As the obstruction 3;! is unable tofpass by the said lever 30, `it l operates to rock or vibrate the same, as indicated by the dotted linesat Fig. 3, so as to that when the ribbonspool frames arrive at near the end of their forward stroke the said proj e'ctin g portion of said lever may contact with the lever 34 and 37 away from itsdriving-pawll and move thev opposite arm '37 up `against the right-hand d rivm g-pawl withthe result hereinbefore described. As the operation of the machine is i'rom right to -left until near the end of its the opposite end ofthe ribbon engages with frame or support 19 thesaid lever is caused `to assume a position such that it can act on the opposite or right-hand end of the lever i to provide ior the reversal again of the Referringto Figs. 5,5637, and 9, l haveprovided a substitute for the actuating-lever 30, which consists of a frame 41, provided 'with elongated hooks' 42., adapted to restuponthe shaft 22, and having at its upper end4 a slot or `eye 43 for-the ribbon tolpass through. AtV

41 is provided a projection or `pin 44, which has the same function as the projecting end of the lever 30, and the serve the same of theleverBO servcsf-namely, tobe acted upon by an ob struction in or on the ribbon and cause the 'projection 44 toactuaie the reversing lever At Figs. 5 and 6 it will be seen struciion'and arrangement of the reversing- (5, `C, 7,fand 9) l have shown-airock-shaft 45 extending across the machine in front of the ribbon, and at the lefthand endyof the said rock-shaft is atfor the projection 44 to act against, and' which below its upper end the lower forked end of a lever 51, pivoted -side of the machine, `by the rise of the said frame is caused to act right-hand' projection 44 to act againstand with a finger 4S to act against the depending extensionwof the right-hand driving-pawl` 2S. The fingers 48 are en the driving-pawls 2S and are adapted to perform .precisely the same functions as the right and left hand arms 37 in the construction hereinbefore described. i v

At Fig. 5 the right-hand uger4S is shown as resting against the right-hand driving-pawl 28 and as holdingit out of omrative relation to the right--handratchet- ..neel, while the left-hand inger 48 is shown as removed from theleft-hand driving-pawl 28 to allow said pawl to assume, by gravity, a position'such that it may vcooperate with the left hand ratchet-wheel and turn the same and wind the ribbon to the left at' each forward movemen1J of the ribbon-spools. will be observed that the obstructionl is soon to coact with the supplemental frame 41 for the purpose of eecting a reversal of the longitudinc l movement of the ribbon.

At Fig. G the View is drawn to represent the reversal of the ribbon as having taken place. rlhis, as before, is accomplished automatically and as follows: As the movement of the ribbon to the left continues the obstruction At said figure' it 32 at the right-hand side, being unable to pass through the eye or slot of the frame 41, operates to move said frame 'bodily and raise the pin or projection 44 to a plane or position such that it may strike the head;47 of thelever 51, on arriving at vibrate said lever about its pivot and cause the' shaft 45 to be rocked and Athe arm 4G, at 4the left-hand end thereof, to be thrown rearwardly and its finger 48 tocontact with the lower end of the driving-pawl 28 at the left-hand side ofv the machine for the purpose of holding said pawl up to a position where it cannot actupon the left-handratchetwheel. When this movement of the parts has been eiected,the driving-pawl 28 at the righthand 1side of the machine 1s freed from en-` gagement with its ratchet-wheel, and as the writing continues the movement -of the ribbon is reversed, or is caused to wind from the left to the right hand side, the frame 41 gradually descending to its normal obstruction 32 recedes.

It will be understood, of" course, that when the ribbon hasbeen entirelyunwound from the left-hand spool the pin or at the left-hand end of the ribbon engages similarly with theframe 41 at the left-hand 'and the projection 44 up'on the arm 46 and again automatically reobstruction 32" 'IOO the front of the machine, `and .l

position as the verse'thefdirection of Ithe movement of the ribbon.

Referring to Fig. O, the ribbon-spool frame or support 19is slotted at 53 on each side arm to receive a pin or bar 54,which rests normally at. the bott'omjof said'slots andfwhich is proi vided with aneye 515 just wide enough to permit-the -ribbontopass through.` The said bar vided cach'with a 'operate to lift the bar Aby Letters Patent,

or pin 5i is provided with a lateral extension or projection 50, which is adapted to serve the same purpose that the lever 30 and the projection 44 serve-thatis, to actuate the reversing devices through the longitudinal movement-s of the ribbon. The ribboi1,whe1r used with the bar 5ft, is to be provided with an obstruction or enlargement, as 32, incapable of passing through the eye or slot in the bar 54, so that when said en argement arrives at the eye or slot and the movement of the ribbon is continued it will 54:, so as to. carry the extension or projection 56 to a position where it may strikeagainst the arm 35 of the lever 3l when this construction is used, or to a position where itmay strike against the head i7 when the rock-shaft construction of Figs. 5, (i, and 7 is used. The construction shown at Fig. 10 is to be used at each side of the machine, as before,` and is adapted to work, in conjunction with the reversing-levers, to produce the same result as the construction shown at Figs. 8 and v9-namely, to assist in the automatic reversal of the directiony of movement of the ribbon lengthwise.

So far as one part of myinvention is concerned the back and forth movements of the ribbon may be effected by meansother than shown herein, and so far ments relating to the means for moving the ribbon back and forth are concerned the machine may be unprovided-with any means for reversing the movements of the ribbon longitudinally.

The switch or means for controlling the ac- -tion of the driving-pawls, as well as the switch movers or. projections actuated by the longitudinal movements of the ribbon, may be greatly varied in detail construction without departing*fromy the gist of my invention. 4That I claim as new, and desire to secure is-` i 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination withthe ribbon, vofthe ribbon -spools proratchet wheel, drivingpawls for turning said ratchet-wheels, means for moving the ribbon-spools back and forth, a switch for alternately engaging said drivingpawls, and means, moving with said spools, for automaticallyactuating said switch operated through the longitudinal movements of `the ribbon,

2. In a type-Writing machine, the combination withV the ribbon, of a'pair of' reciprocatory ribbon spools provided each with a ratchet-wheel, driving-pawls for turning said ratchet-wheels, a' switch for alternately engagin g said driving-pawls, and a device at and movable with each spool adapted to be moved by the ribbon to actuate the said switch.

In a type-'writing machine, the combination with a ribbon having at or near each end an enlargement, a pail-.of reciprocatory ribbon-spools provided each with a ratchetwheel driving-pearls for turning said ratchetwheels, e switc 1 projecting end of theas my improveforalternatelyengaging-said A driving-pawls, and connections between said switch and said ribbon adapted to be acted upon by said ribbon and in turn to actuatc said switch during an endwise movement of the spool, whereby the longitudinal travel of the ribbon may be automatically reversed.

4:.` In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon having at or near each end an enlargement, a pair of reciprocatory ribbon-spools provided each with a ratchetwheel, driving-pawls for turning said ratchetwheels, a switch for alternately engaging said driving-pawls, and a switch-mover at each side adapted to travel back and forth with said spools and to be actuated independently by said ribbon and carried to a position to act on said switch.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon having at or near eachend an enlargement, a pair of reciprocatory ribbon-spools provided each with a ratchetwheel, drivin g-pawls for turning said ratchetwheels, av switch for alternately engaging said driving-pawls, and a lever at each side, having an eye or slot, adapted to travel back and forth with said spools and to be vibrated .by said ribbon to a position to act on said switch.

G. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon having at or near each end an enlargement, a pair of reciprocato'ry ribbon-spools, provided each with a ratchetwheel, driving-pawls for turning said ratchetwheels, a vibratory switch for alternately engagin g said driving-pawls, and a pair of switch-movers arranged to travel with said spools, and adapted to be actuated alternately by the ribbon so as to act on said switch first on'one side and then on the other.4

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a ribbon having at or near each end an enlargement, a pair of reciprocatory ribbon-spool frames orsupports, a pair of ribbon-spools having each aratchet-Wheel, a pair of driving-pawls, a vibratory switch for said pawls and a pair of levers as 30, on said frames for shifting said switch.

IOO

IIO

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the ribbon, of a pair of reciprocatory ribbon-spools, a set of devices for rotating each of said spools, a switch to cooperate with said rotating devices, and a pair of switchmovers actuated by the movements of the ribbon.

tion with the ribbon,of ri bbon-spools provided each with a ratchet-wheel, driving-pawlsfor turning said ratchet-wheels, means for moving the ribbon-spools back and-forth, a switch for alternately holding said driving-pawls in proper relationship to turn their respective ratchet-wheels, and means moving zwith said spools and operated through the longitudinal movementsof the ribbon for automatically I 2o 9. In a type-writing machine, the combinathrowing one-driving-pawl into engagement and the other out of engagement with its respective ratchet-wheel. l

10. In a type-writing machine,tl1e combinasupports,

tion with the ribbon, of reeiprocatory ribbonspools provided each with a ratchet-wheel, a

`pair of driving-parvis for alternately turning said ratchet-Wheels, and means, for reversing said pawls, moving with said spools and controlled by the movements of said ribbon. y

11. In a type-Writing machine,the combina-4 tion with the ribbon, of a pair of reciprocatory ribbon spools provided each withV a ratchet-wheel, a pair of switch-connected dxiiving-p'aivls, and means for reversing said pawls carried by the ribbon-spool frames or and alternately and automatically moved into operative positions for reversing said pawls at orabont the end of the longitudinal travel of the ribbon, and operating to effect the reversal of the pawls during endwise movements of said reciprocatory ribbon-- spools. Y

12. In a type-Writingmachine,the combination with the inking-ribbon, of a pair of reci'procatory ribbon-spools, a set of devices for rotating each of said `spools,'a switch mechanism to cooperate with said rotating devices, and means carriedl bythe ribbon-spools and under the control of the ribbon for alternately reversing the ribbon-spool-rotating devices.

113. In a type-irritin g macbine,tl1e`eombin ai i tion with the ribbon, of a pair of reciprocatory ribbonfspools having each a ratchet- Wheel, a drivingpawl mechanism consisting of a pair of pawls and a controlling-switch, and means on the ribbon-spool frames or snpports, controlled by the movements of the ribbon, for actuating the driving-pavvlmecl1an-` ism and automatically throwing one pawl'ont of engagement and the other pawl into engagement. y

14. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with the paper-carriage, and its drivingpower, of a ribbon, a pair of ribbon-spools, a transverse'v rock shaft, strap or chain 13, connected to the power-shame rocker-arm 14, a pair of rocker-arms 18, connected tothe ribbon-spools, a returning-spring, a set of devices for rotatingeach of said spools, a switch to cooperate with said rotating devices, and a pair of switch-movers actuated by the longitudinal movements of the ribbon.

Signed at New York city, in the county of N ew York and State of New York, this 12th day of June, A. D. 1891.

- W. J BARRON.

' Witnesses:

JACOB FELBEL, LILLIE BRoWNiNc. 

